Gay Dems complain DNC cut off funding, drop support for Biden event

By BEN SMITH

06/18/2009 04:24 PM EDT

Theboard of directors of the National Stonewall Democrats are dropping their support for a June 25 DNC fundraiser with Vice President Joe Biden over, they wrote in an email obtained by POLITICO, a combination of policy slights and the claim that they've been cut off from traditional party funding.

In the email to Tom Petrillo, who runs the party's substantial gay fundraising operation, the board members write:

[W]e are incredibly disappointed that the DNC has made a decision to withhold any financial support to National Stonewall Democrats this year but is in turn asking us to help raise money for the DNC in a difficult financial environment. The DNC has historically supported National Stonewall through sponsorship of the annual Capitol Champions event. This year, we did not receive any support. The DNC has traditionally provided materials for the many Pride parades and festivals around the country to help educate the LGBT community about why the Democratic Party is the Party for full LGBT equality. This year we were informed that we would not be receiving any materials or support for producing materials for the various nationwide Pride activities. These decisions were very disappointing.

We'd be remiss to also not mention that the recent legal brief of the Obama Administration defending DOMA is incredibly hurtful. The members of the Board and our membership put our hopes, our dollars and our time into ensuring the election of Barack Obama because we believed that he supported us. To now have his Administration refer to our relationships in the same terms used by our long time enemies such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and James Dobson hurts on so many levels. To have our committed and loving relationships referred to as the moral equivalent of incest and pedophilia is not something that any of us ever expected from this Administration considering how hard we worked to be seen and respected. For that reason alone, advocating for attendance at a fundraiser to support the Administration and the DNC, while they have not condemned this hurtful language, is not something our membership will receive positively.

The group says it's not "boycotting" the June 25 fundraiser with Joe Biden; it just won't encourage its members to attend.

Gay money is, historically, of outsized importance to the Democratic Party. Howard Dean, in particular, launched his presidential campaign in part on enthusiasm from gay donors about his support for civil unions, and maintained those relationships as chairman.

While the DNC was unable to help with Pride materials this year, I did, in a recent conversation with Kyle Bailey, express that the DNC would be able to sponsor a project with Stonewall this year. He mentioned a Young Democrat guide that Stonewall is working on and I asked for him to send a proposal for possible assistance with funding. I am sorry if that was not communicated.

The full emails, sent earlier this afternoon, is after the jump.

Tom,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of National Stonewall Democrats, we want to share with you our recent frustrations and to explain why we will not be further promoting the June 25th LGBT community fundraiser with Vice President Biden for the DNC. First, we want to make it clear that our refusal to promote the event and encourage participation from our many supporters should not be interpreted as a "boycott". Many of the members of the Board and our financial supporters have long supported the DNC financially. Our members will make their own decisions about whether or not they believe that financially supporting the DNC right now is the appropriate step to take.

We recognize your personal support of National Stonewall Democrats and appreciate that support. However, we are incredibly disappointed that the DNC has made a decision to withhold any financial support to National Stonewall Democrats this year but is in turn asking us to help raise money for the DNC in a difficult financial environment. The DNC has historically supported National Stonewall through sponsorship of the annual Capitol Champions event. This year, we did not receive any support. The DNC has traditionally provided materials for the many Pride parades and festivals around the country to help educate the LGBT community about why the Democratic Party is the Party for full LGBT equality. This year we were informed that we would not be receiving any materials or support for producing materials for the various nationwide Pride activities. These decisions were very disappointing.

We'd be remiss to also not mention that the recent legal brief of the Obama Administration defending DOMA is incredibly hurtful. The members of the Board and our membership put our hopes, our dollars and our time into ensuring the election of Barack Obama because we believed that he supported us. To now have his Administration refer to our relationships in the same terms used by our long time enemies such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and James Dobson hurts on so many levels. To have our committed and loving relationships referred to as the moral equivalent of incest and pedophilia is not something that any of us ever expected from this Administration considering how hard we worked to be seen and respected. For that reason alone, advocating for attendance at a fundraiser to support the Administration and the DNC, while they have not condemned this hurtful language, is not something our membership will receive positively.

Considering the long and deep relationship between the DNC and the National Stonewall Democrats we hope that we can work together in the future and that the recent developments will not damage those close ties. We would welcome a meeting between the leadership of National Stonewall Democrats and the DNC to determine how we can continue that longstanding relationship going forward and find ways to deepen it further. Our leadership is committed to such a course and we hope that the current DNC leadership is as well.

We hope that you can understand our position and will respect our decision to not promote this event or any other future DNC fundraisers targeted towards the LGBT community at this time.

Thank you, and the Board of Directors, for this email. I definitely appreciate the thoughts and concerns you have shared and want to express my confidence that the DNC and Stonewall can and will maintain a close working relationship. The partnership that our respective organizations have shared, I believe, have strongly benefitted the LGBT community and the Democratic Party.

I do want to quickly address one item in your email. While the DNC was unable to help with Pride materials this year, I did, in a recent conversation with Kyle Bailey, express that the DNC would be able to sponsor a project with Stonewall this year. He mentioned a Young Democrat guide that Stonewall is working on and I asked for him to send a proposal for possible assistance with funding. I am sorry if that was not communicated.

I'd love to organize a meeting with Stonewall leadership and the DNC. After the event next week, I will reach out to you and Jon to work out a date and time.

I really look forward to speaking with you and look forward to growing the DNC/Stonewall relationship. Thank you for your leadership.